Page 31 of Protecting it All

Dylan was impressed at how strong she sounded, despite the situation.

Jake's chilly response had the temperature in the room plummeting. "Excuse me? You have zero bargaining power here, Hannah. You can only make your situation worse each time you open your damn mouth."

"I don't think so. I have something you want. You have something I want. I'll drive to you with my item and we'll trade in the parking lot. That's the deal. Take it or leave it."

"I'll leave it. You want to drive yourself, that's fine, but you will be coming in if you want to see your friend. We've already started the party without you. I'd hurry if I were you. She doesn't seem to be having much fun without you here," Jake said.

Dylan could hear the muffled sounds of a struggle and crying in the background. Hannah obviously did as well, and a helpless resolve filled her eyes. He willed her to hang up the call, yet knew she wouldn't.

"I hate you. You'd better not hurt a hair on her head, you bastard," she snarled.

Jake's only reply was a devious chuckle. The sadistic ass was having fun.

She spat, "I'll bring you what you want, but then Mia, Lucy and I are leaving. Promise me, or I'll take a detour to the police station on the way there."

Jake's humor was gone. "Do that, and you'll never see them again."

"That sounds suspiciously like a threat. I think the police will be interested in that, as well," Hannah countered.

"I'd shut up if I were you. You're only making things worse for yourself."

Dylan respected her bravery, but he had to agree with Jake. She was only pissing the sadistic fuck off more. He shook his own head to try to prevent her from doing more damage.

Jake helped by cutting the conversation short. "Come to the warehouse. Thirty minutes, Hannah. Don't make me come for you. You won't like what happens if I do." The call cut off.

They stood silently for thirty seconds, each weighing their options. Dylan wanted to load the car and drive in the opposite direction of the warehouse, only stopping when they were hundreds of miles away. But Hannah would fight him. Of that he was certain.

He wasn't prepared for her to lean in, hugging him tightly as she laid her head against his chest. The scent of her shampoo calmed him, filling him with a longing for more... a more he wasn't sure they'd ever have.

"I don't want you to go in," he murmured.

"I don't want to go in."

"Then—"

She cut him off. "I'm going."

He had two choices: kidnap her, or help prep her to send her in with the best possible chance of coming out the other side unscathed. With reluctance, he chose the second option.

His call to Derek rang several times before his brother answered with a gruff, "Yeah."

"Davenport made his move. He kidnapped Hannah's best friend. Hannah has to be at the warehouse in thirty with the ledger or he says we won't like what happens next. You'd better get back here in ten with the surveillance shit, or I'm packing her and the kid in the car and we're out of here."

Dylan hung up without waiting for a reply. He didn't want to spend the few minutes he had left with Hannah arguing with Derek. He'd much rather spend it with her in his arms.

He lifted the trembling woman, carried her back to the couch and sank down, cradling her in his arms. Neither spoke, until they heard the front door being unlocked.

They were out of time.

Chapter Nine

Hannah

"Can you hear me?" Dylan's voice sounded in her left ear. As comforting as it was to maintain a connection with the outside world, Hannah was terrified Jake would notice the tiny transmitter.

"Yes, but I still worry he's gonna see the earpiece," she answered, trying not to move her lips in case she was already being watched.

"He won't. We're using state-of-the-art tech gear—shit even Davenport doesn’t have in his arsenal. The most important part is keeping your earrings in. They are our eyes and ears in there."

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